A Tandem One-Pot, Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Regiochemically Differentiated 1,2,4,5-Tetrahydro-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-ones

A one-pot, two-step synthesis of the title compounds employs a multicomponent Ugi condensation reaction, microwave irradiation, and Fe(0) as a reductant. Two pathways are accessible; both routes utilize bifunctional, o-nitro-substituted arenes leading to either C2, N4, C5 substitution (A) or C2, N4 substitution (B).